Want to save someone's life?

[James H. Bushart]

Read this story.

County where deck fell has no safety code

BY RON SYLVESTER

The Wichita Eagle

The collapse of a deck at a new home that killed one man and injured numerous others occurred in a county that has no safety building codes or inspectors for new dwellings, the Elk County sheriff said Monday.

Sheriff Doug Hanks said his office is still trying to pull together a report on the injuries Saturday night, when the balcony on an upper deck broke away from the house and fell on the guests below.

Owners Brian and Donna Schreck of Wichita were holding a housewarming party at their new home on 1765 Road 25, about five miles north of Fall River. Gerard K. "Bud" Seiler, 46, of Andale was killed in the accident.

Others were taken to a hospital in nearby Fredonia, Hanks said. Some were airlifted to a Wichita hospital.

Hanks said Monday that Elk County has no building safety codes, nor does it inspect new structures.

"Not in Elk County -- we're not even zoned," Hanks said.

Kansas does not require cities or counties to have building safety codes.
"Obviously, some of the rural counties and cities have resisted this as being too much government intrusion," said Ed Flentje, chairman of the Hugo Wall School of Public and Urban Affairs at Wichita State University. "And then something like what happened last weekend just highlights it."

Wichita has had building codes on its books since 1888, said Kurt Schroeder, superintendent of the city's Office of Central Inspection. The city bases its code on the International Building Code and International Residential Buildings Codes.

Hanks, the sheriff, said his office is still trying to determine what happened Saturday night but that it appeared the balcony collapsed under the weight of too many guests.

Brian and Donna Schreck declined to comment when contacted Monday night at their Wichita home.

Reach Ron Sylvester at 316-268-6514 or rsylvester@wichitaeagle.com.

Now, save a life.

Send an email to the newspaper reporter.

Whether or not you support home inspector licensing, you will have to agree that enforcing building codes should be leading any agenda to "protect the consumer" before a home inspection licensing law.

Write or call Ron Sylvester and let him know how strongly you, as a home inspector from (wherever you are) feel that the citizens of his state are in need of REAL protection.

The real estate lobby and the builder's lobby keep codes out to keep costs down (and profits up)....and people die as a result.

Do you care? Is "protecting the consumer" what you are REALLY about, or only when it comes to legislation that eliminates your own competition?

Used house salesmen and builders are killing people in Kansas while they propose legislation to protect them from home inspectors.

Make the call. Please.

[wforsyth]

That's like those pics I posted before. I wouldn't even walk out onto it for more than a few minutes. It was sooo dangerous.

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Originally Posted by wforsyth

That's like those pics I posted before. I wouldn't even walk out onto it for more than a few minutes. It was sooo dangerous.

If as Dangerous as you suggest, why would you walk out onto the Deck at all?

[Ted Allen]

Originally Posted by jhagarty

If as Dangerous as you suggest, why would you walk out onto the Deck at all?

Is there a picture?

Or, did I miss something.... as useuall?

[wforsyth]

Originally Posted by jhagarty

If as Dangerous as you suggest, why would you walk out onto the Deck at all?

Well, that would have been before I saw how dangerous it was wouldn't it?

[wforsyth]

Originally Posted by jhagarty

If as Dangerous as you suggest, why would you walk out onto the Deck at all?

That was from an old thread I put some pics on from a deck that had no cross-bracing and little spindles for legs and pulling away from the house and very high up.

[Joseph Burkeson, CMI]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Make the call. Please.

Hi Jim, thanks for posting this.

I called Ron to discuss why the state was pushing licensing for home inspectors while folks in his state are dying from the collapse of structures constructed by non-licensed contractors. I also questioned why building codes which have been proven to save lives are not being enforced and how this lack of respect for established building science protocols endangers the public.

I had to leave a message, but he now has my phone number, maybe he will get back to me with an answer.

Keep up the good work, Joe.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jburkeson1

I called Ron

Thanks, Joe.

[donquique]

who is to say that a building inspector would had caught the bad construction. If that was the case, new construction homes in Florida would never leak....

[Matt Berman, CMI]

I have never heard of anyone dying from a leak, Matt

[rstrahan]

Originally Posted by mberman

I have never heard of anyone dying from a leak, Matt

No, they merely allege permanent developmental disabilities in children due to mold. Look up the Ballard mold case in Dripping Springs, TX.

Russell in BubbaLand

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by rstrahan

No, they merely allege permanent developmental disabilities in children due to mold. Look up the Ballard mold case in Dripping Springs, TX.

Russell in BubbaLand

You would think that in a place called "Dripping Springs" people would come to expect mold. Go figure.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by mberman

I have never heard of anyone dying from a leak, Matt

Didn't the Titanic leak????????????????????

[Harold E. Miller]

Originally Posted by rstrahan

No, they merely allege permanent developmental disabilities in children due to mold. Look up the Ballard mold case in Dripping Springs, TX.

Russell in BubbaLand

....poster children for the mold is gold campaign?
http://www.usaweekend.com/01_issues/...011014mold.jpg

....you know what they say....."You can't fix stupid!"

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

Don't you just know if a home inspector has missed the deck stuff on an inspection and this happened - the realtors, legislators would be pounding the media with the "We've gotta get these yahoo's licensed" ....................